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How music and songs boost language learning
Sheilamary Koch EducationIf you've ever studied a new language, you know how overwhelming it can be to absorb all that new vocabulary, pronounce things right and correctly use the grammar. Singing a language can make it easier to learn, according to research that found people who sang words or short phrases from a foreign language instead of speaking them were twice as good at remembering them later.
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How the AHCA will affect those with pre‑existing conditions
Howard Margolis Healthcare AdministrationOn May 4, Republicans in the House of Representatives repealed the Affordable Care Act (aka Obamacare) and passed the American Health Care Act of 2017 (AHCA). President Donald Trump lauded the bill and held a congratulatory ceremony in the White House Rose Garden.
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Are USDA’s changes to school lunches needed?
Cait Harrison EducationChanges are coming again to school lunches. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue announced last month that the department is taking steps to roll back lunch standards promoted by former first lady Michelle Obama. Perdue's interim final rule will give schools more flexibility in meeting whole grain and lower sodium requirements, and it allows schools to serve 1 percent flavored milk rather than skim.
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What’s in your wallet? Lessons in American money
Debra Josephson Abrams EducationWhat do George Washington, an Egyptian pyramid and a bald eagle have in common? They all appear on the U.S. one-dollar bill! But they are not the only symbols on the dollar bill, consistently the bill most printed by the U.S. government. How many Americans know the history of and symbols on our money? I admit to being one who knew far less than I should have and far less than I wanted to.
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What should my gifted child be doing over the summer?
Susan Winebrenner EducationSummer is beginning, and you haven't made any activity plans for your gifted child. By the end of this month, you may be regretting that decision. Here are some suggestions for your consideration.
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Using co-teaching models to foster student independence
Savanna Flakes EducationCo-taught lessons should look substantively different and richer for kids than what one teacher would do alone. A co-taught classroom provides more opportunities for students to receive feedback, which allows them to move rapidly toward self-monitoring, adjusting their strategies for success and independence.
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Flexible periods allow for personalized learning opportunities
Brian Stack EducationFor decades, school principals have searched for better ways to use time more effectively in the school. At the high school level, this search has manifested itself through iterations of daily period schedules, sometimes referred to as "bell schedules." Schools, on average, change their bell schedule every five to seven years as needs in their building evolve.
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What educators need to know about ‘13 Reasons Why’
Pierre LaRocco Education"13 Reasons Why" is a popular book and Netflix TV series that is stirring up a lot of emotion and conversation around suicide. However, in some instances it is seen as a glamorization of suicide. I want to take a look at the events in the book and how can we as educators can speak to the young people we work with about this book and subject.
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Despite challenges, songs add value to the high school ESL classroom
Sheilamary Koch EducationIn a recent discussion with my high school ESL students about music, I asked them to relate experiences where music was used to help teach them an academic subject in school. Nearly everyone had something to say about how important music was in their lives — as a way to concentrate, shift their mood, shut out the world, or make them dance. But when it came to education, about all they mentioned was the ABC song and rhythm to teach multiplication in a Waldorf school.
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Improving your child’s reading evaluation: A strategy for parents
Howard Margolis EducationAs a parent, you felt Warren's frustration. You heard his anxiety. You saw his last ounce of confidence vanish. Why? He struggled to read, and he "struck out" every time he tried. He felt horrible. In anguish, he screamed, "I'm stupid, stupid, stupid!"
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